Keyless three way light socket



May 15, 1956 HUNG-TU TSENG KEYLESS THREE WAY LIGHT SOCKET Filed May 5, 1953 IN V EN TOR.

Hung-tn Tseng United States Paten KEYLESS THREE WAY LIGHT SOCKET Hung-tn T seng, New York, N. Y.

Application May 5, 1953, Serial No. 353,205

1 Claim. 01. 240-81) 7 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in three pole electric lamp sockets and lamp fixtures and structures having such sockets.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved three pole lamp socket which can be operated by a three way switch mounted at a point remote from the socket such as at the base of a lamp, or on a wall or even in another room.

Another object of the present invention proposes forming the three pole lamp socket substantially the same as present commercially available uniform sockets, but providing an extra wire connecting terminal on the socket so that the socket may be easily and conveniently connected by two socket terminals with two switch terminals of a three way switch located remotely from the socket and the socket and switch be connected by their third terminals with the two power lines of a source of electric energy such as a household electric power line.

Still further, the present invention proposes constructing a lamp fixture or lamp structure which contains a three pole switch and an improved three pole lamp socket which can be physically separated but which are simply and efiiciently connected together electrically.

As a further object, the present invention proposes the construction of a lamp or a lamp fixture or structure containing two or more of such improved three pole lamp sockets which can be operated by a single three way switch located remotely from the sockets.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

On the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a lamp structure having the improved three pole lamp socket and a commercially available three way switch mounted on the stand and constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the socket shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a complete bottom end view of the structure shown in section in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged exploded view of the parts shown in Fig. 3, but with the metal casing and insulator shell omitted.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the three way switch shown in Fig. 1 with socket terminal members shown in Fig. 6, the parts being connected together and to two power lines in accordance with the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, a lamp structure 15 is shown in Fig. 1 having a stand 16, an upright member 17, the improved three pole socket 18 conice nected to the upright member 17, a three way switch 19 mounted on the stand and a lamp shade 20 securedto the socket 18. The upright member 17 is of hollow tubing. to permit wiring of the switch to the socket and the socket to a source of electric energy (not shown) as will later be fully described. The improved three pole socket 18 is similar in size and shape to the conventional standard three pole sockets which receive standard three pole electric lamps. (not shown) mechanically supporting the lamps and electrically connecting them to the circuit wires. I a

Three pole socket 18 has a hollow cylindrical tubular shell 21 covered at its upper end by a cap 22 frictionally held to it. The cap 22 has the usual threaded central top opening 23 and a paper or other non-conductor material disc 24 (see Fig. 3) in the cap 22 has a similar aligned opening 25. Shell 21 has the usual paper or other non-conductor material tube 26 closely fitting within it. v A base member 27 of insulator material such as thermosetting plastic or porcelain fits within the tube 26 and shell 21. V On the base member 27 of the socket are three spaced wire connecting terminals 23, 2S and 30 (see Fig. 6), the base member 27 being provided with grooved recesses 31, 32 and 33 to receive and hold the terminals 28, 29 1 and 30 respectively.

A threaded electric lamp receiving sleeve 34 of conductor material is secured to the base member 27 by screws 35 and 36 with an insulator disc or sheet 37 disposed between the sleeve 34 and the base member '27 of the socket. The sleeve 34 has a central axial opening 38 at its upper end between the screws 35 and 36.

The socket terminal 28 in recess 31 consists of a wire connecting terminal member 39 with a terminal screw 40 extending through it. Screw 35 which holds the sleeve 4 to the base member 27 is made of conductor material and connects with the member 39 of the socket terminal I 28. This provides means electrically to connect member 39 to sleeve 34 as well as to secure the member 39 to'the base member 27 of the socket. sleeve 34 is made one pole of the three pole socket 18.

Socket terminal 29 consists of a conductor member 41 secured to the base member in recess 32 and a second wire connecting terminal screw 42 in the upper end of the conductor member 41. The lower end of the conductor member 41 extends through the insulator disc or sheet 37 and central axial opening 38 of the sleeve 34 into the sleeve'to form another pole of the socket 18.

Socket terminal 30 in recess 33 consists of another conductor member 43 having a lower bent spring conductor end 44 and a third wire connecting terminal screw any point on the lamp fixture or structure or remote therefrom.

The three way stretch 19 has three terminals 46, 47 and 48 (see Fig. 7). Switch terminal 46 is connectedby conduit or wire 49 to a source of electric energy (not shown) the wire 49 being one circuit wire or one line of a power line. Similarly, socket terminal 28 is con nected by conduit or wire 50 to the source of electric energy, the wire 50 being the second circuit wire or line of a two line power circuit line.

Patented May 15, 1956 In this manner also, the

connected by conduit or wire 52 to the other socket terminal 29. In this manner, the switch 19 and socket 13 form alampfixture wherein athree pole socket of simple and substantially, similar to standard designs may be actuated by a s'witch mountable remote from the socket.

lt-willbe apparent that' two or more of the improved three way light sockets 18 may be incorporated in a lamp I or, a lampfixture or lamp structure and operated by one V modifications coming within'the scope of the invention as defined in'the appended claim. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent ;A lamp socket comprising a solid cylindrical insulating base member, an'outer sleeve supported thereby, said basermernber having a pair of opposed recesses therealong from end to end thereof, and a third recess inter- Switch terminal 47 is connected by conduit or Wire 51 to the socket'terminal 30 and switch terminal 48 is mediate said pair of recesses terminating short of one end, a conducting sleeve secured to said base member and depending therefrom inside said outer sleeve, said conducting sleeve being open at both ends, a terminal member mounted in each opposed recess of the base, binding screws connected to said terminal members, a central lamp contact connected to one of the opposed terminal members, said central contact being disposed in the opening in theinner end of the conducting sleeve in spaced relation, conductors leading from the binding screws of said opposed terminals to :a remote three-pole switch connected to a source of electro motive force and a conductor leading fromthe binding screw of the terminal in the intermediate recess 10 a source of electro motive force.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 941,811 Platt Nov. 30, 1909 1,796,120 Olley Mar. 10, 1931 2,217,395 Wertzheiser Oct. 8, 1940 2,340,310 Dewey Feb. 1, 1944 2,511,558 Baker June 13, 1950 2,638,553 Zobian May 12, 1953 2.668905 Morin Feb. ,9, 1954 2,690,504 Morin Sept. 28, 1954 

